Combination portable projection screen and carrying case



Oct. 31, 1950 A R I-IERLACHE 2,527,816

COMBINATEEON' PORTABLE PROJECTION SCREEN AND CARRYING CASE Filed Aug. 31. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' I E E E m I .36 49 I All! 1 all" II /6 W iklz Oct. 31, 1950 A R HERLACHE I 2,527,816

COMBINATION PORTABLE PROJECTION SCREEN AND CARRYING CASE v Fi led Aug. a1. 1946 2 sn'eets sneet 2 frzveififl A H/zf? 97 4:5059

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 COMBINATION PORTABLE PROJECTION "SCREEN AND CARRYING CASE .Alden R. Herlache, Milwaukee, Wis. Application August 31, 1946, Serial No.'694,379

3 Claims. (Cl. 16024) I This invention relates to a combination port- ,able carrying case and projection screen. i v

In thebroad field of motion picture projection, particularly in home movie displays and in 'projections of business, educational and amusement subjects, there is the problem and usual necessity of carrying a separate screen from place to-place and to various locations for viewing by audiences; this in addition to the necessity for packing and carrying the projector and needed appurtenances.

The transport and packing and unpacking of 'jsc'reens in separate units has resulted in frequent i"da mageto thescreen and relatively shorter life thereof in addition to the problem caused by the I necessity of carrying and setting up the screen at ,various locations. Y

My invention has for oneof its objects the .elimination of the problem and the provision of an integral device, a portion of which contains and comprises a rollable normally concealed screen and comprises a carrying case provided -with easily mountable supporting means for setting up the unit'to provide for the screen being maintained at a desirable height and in a fiat plane.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a combination carrying 'case and screen,

and retractable mounting therefor, including a .sectional openable container havinga roll screen 'rotatably' and retractablyimounted 'in. one of the sections; having pivoted standards adapted to be swung upwardly to support the screen in extended position and having removable leg means to mount the device at desirable height. i

Other and further important objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims. f

This invention (in a preferred form) is illusf tratd; in the accompanying drawings, and one improvementthereof is described in the follow- 'ing specification: V .On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my device with portions of one side wall broken away and ,with a closure of the case in open position. I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking at the bottomof my device and showing the pivotal legs in folded position adjacent the said bottom.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating my devicewith the supporting arms and screen in ext ended 'position' and with the legs 'inextended supporting position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the device closed and in usual carrying position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary viewofan end portion of one of the legs showing the pivoted threaded end section thereof. Referring to the drawings, numeral It designates a base portion of a case or portable receptacle of substantiall rectangular form and having a bottom H and substantially vertically extending relatively high side wall I2 and opposite relatively short side wall 13 connected by opposite end Walls l4 and 15, all thereof being connected to bottom ll in a conventional manner. As indicated in Fig. 3, end walls It and I5 are of substantially trapezoidal shape and partially defined by inclined or diagonal edges as indicated at l4-a in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. land 3, the upper edges of end walls I4 and I5 and side wall 12 are joined together by a rectangular top wall [6. which is secured by suitable fas tening elements (not shown) and whose forward straight edge is disposed above the central part of the case.

The inclined rectangular opening so formed is adapted to be closed by a closure, cover or hood I! composed of top panel l8 and side panel l9 secured perpendicularly to each other and having triangular end walls 29 and 2| secured thereto by suitable fastenin elements (not shown). The top panel l8 has secured thereto a pair of spaced apart hinges 22 as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4 so that said cover may be opened and positioned in th position shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the normally lower long edge portionof cover ll has a pair of manually releasable looks or clips 23 secured thereon with cooperating interlocking elements of con- Ventional form secured on the outer face of short side wall l3. The top panel l6 preferably is provided with a bail-like handle 24 suitably secured thereto as indicated in Fig. 4.

Suitably secured at opposite ends of the case and at the corners formed'by end walls l4 and I5 and bottom ll! and near the side wall l3 (which is shown as brokenaway in Fig. 1) are a pair of mounting brackets 25 and 26, which brackets are provided with opposed upwardly and inwardly opening slots (not shown) which re- 7 ceive the end pins or studs of a roller. A spring impelled roller 21, of a form substantially similar to a curtain roller, carries end studs or pins 28 which are journalled in the recesses of brackets 25 and 26, one thereof .being removable though flat and not rotatable as in the case in rollers of window shades.

A fiexibleprojection screen 29 of conventional type has one inner edge suitably secured to roller 21. in the usual manner and said screen preferably has a grippabl'e hemmed or tunnelled edge '29a (Fig; 3) in which is mounted a suitable bar or rod (not shown) whose ends normally pro- 25 and 26 respectively, said pivotal connections 7 The pivotal arms are adapted to be extended upward in vertical direction and said arms. have their free ends recessed or bifurcated (as shown) to receive and hold the opposite ends respectively of a bar or rod 29-b in. hemmededge 29a so that the screen will be held in withdrawn position in a substantially fiat plane b-etween arms 3| and 32 as illustratedlin Fig. 1.

When it is desired to fold away the screen, the user disengages the bar 29-17 from the recessed ends of arms 30 and 3| and allows the spring (not shown) of the roller to roll up the screen in a manner similar to a window shade.

The case may be easily mounted upon a table or other available support at the location of desired projection so that the screen, when extended will be at desired height. However, as supports are not convenient in many locations, I

- provide an eificient normally concealed supporting means. This comprises four metal legs 33,

' each of which are preferabl formed of two pivoted together sections, the short sections bethe most desirable position according to theparticular case. The free ends of legs 33 are prer erably provided with rubber grips or members 35 so that when the legs are pivoted in inclined positions, (as in Fig. 3) the legs will not slipalong the floor or other supporting surface.

The inside face of the panel E3 of the cover is preferably provided with four pairs of spaced apart metal yieldable retaining clips 33 into which the legs 33 may be releasably mounted respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, when the device is to be carried from place to place. The pivotal connection between threaded studs 33a and legs 33 provides for allowin the legs to remain in mounted position in the bottom 1 l and the re spective legs 33 folded alongside the bottom so that convenient portage of the device may be had without removal of said legs.

The carrying case provides ample room for removably mounting a projector 37 and containers for film and other paraphernalia which are illustrated by numerals 38 and 39 in Fig. l. A fiat shelf or panel 4i] secured a short distance above the bottom 18 is preferably provided and upon which a projection and containers preferably are supported during portage.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof.

I claim:

1. In a combination carrying device and sup- 4 port for a rollable screen; a case of substantially rectangular form having opposite end walls whose upper corner. sections arecutaway atone side and said case having onerelatively shallow side wall, the edges of said shallow side wal1 and said cut away portions of said end wall defining an opening; a closurepivotally connected to the up- 'p'er portion of said case adapted, when closed, to

'close said opening; a pair of mounting brackets at the. opposite ends of the lower part of said case; a roller rotatably mounted in said brackets; a flexible screen mounted on said roller; a pair of arms pivoted at the opposite ends of said case respectively and adapted to be swung to vertically extending position; said screen being attachable, when withdrawn, to the upper end portions of saidarms to thereby hold said screen in substantially vertical plane; and legs removably mounted in the bottom portion of said case, said legs being adapted to be carried in said case during portage of said device. y

2. In a combination carrying device and support for a roll-able screen; a case of substantially rectangular form having opposite end walls whose upper corner sectionslare cut away atone side and said case having one. relatively shallow side wall, the edges of said shallow side wall and said cut away portions of said end wall defining. an opening; a closure pivotally connected to the upper portion of said case adapted, when closed, 'to close said opening; a pair of mounting brackets at. the opposite ends of the lower part of said case a roller rotatably mounted in' said brackets; a flexible screen mounted on said roller; a pair of arms pivoted. at the opposite ends of said case respectively and adapted to be swung to vertically extending position; said screen being attachable, when withdrawn, to the upper'end portions of said arms to thereby hold said screen in a substantially vertical plane; a plurality of threaded fastening elements inthe bottom portion of said .case; and legs, each comprising an elongated rigid section and a shorter threaded pivotally connected sectionadapted tofbe removably threaded in. said fastening elements. and extended, outwardly'tolsupport said device above .a supporting device.

3. In a portable device of the described class, an elongated carrying case having an opening; a cover pivotally connected to said case adapted to close said opening; a pair of arms pivoted at one end of each thereof to opposite end portions of said case and adapted to be extended upwardly; a roll screen rotatably mounted in the lower part of said case, the edge portion of said screen being attachable tothe upper ends of said arms when said arms are extended to thereby hold said screen in substantially vertical plane, and a plurality of legs detachably connected tothe bottom portion of said case and adapted to support. said device above a supporting surface. I

ALDEN'R. HERLACHE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date - 2,382,025 Raven Aug. 14,1945 

